Are Stoke set to sign Brazilian Paulinho?

Reports from Italy suggest Stoke are in the running for Livorno captain Paulinho (Picture: Getty Images)

If the rumours are to be believed, Stoke are set to sign another Brazilian this summer – days after signing Brazilian-Slovak defender Dionatan Teixeira.

The suggestion comes from Livorno president Aldo Spinelli, who has claimed we – as well as ‘several’ other English teams and Al Jazira from Abu Dhabi – are all interested in their 28-year old star striker Paulinho.

He certainly fits the scoring profile of a striker we need, having bagged 15 goals in last season’s Serié A. That is where we’ve been lacking – a proven goalscorer, confident in netting 15 or more goals a season.

Peter Crouch, Michael Owen, Kenwyne Jones, James Beattie, Dave Kitson and Tuncay have all tried to carry the attacking line on their shoulders during our Premier League years – but none of them have been capable of comfortably reaching 15-plus goals a season.

With the addition of Mame Biram Diouf onto the playing staff already this summer, it seems clear that Mark Hughes is looking at strengthening attacking options heading into the new campaign.

And, whilst we’ve been stung previously with ‘big name’ signings that haven’t been successful, at least if we do sign Paulinho we won’t be suffering work permit issues.

Paulinho is a Fan-favourite at Livorno, having scored 15 goals in 35 games last season (Picture: Getty Images)

Paulinho – or Paulo Sérgio Betanin to give him his full name – has dual-nationality, holding an Italian passport as well as having represented Brazil at the 2005 South American Youth Championship for the under-20s.

Are we really set to sign another Brazilian, another striker?

While rumours are usually more miss than hit, there are few fans who’d be sad to see more competition in the attacking positions to push on this season.